Summer Colony realistic spot to get Horologist to Beldame

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Even coming off a solid second-place finish in last month’s Grade 3 Shuvee Stakes, Horologist would most likely have been a longshot in next Saturday’s Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga.

Since she has not won a graded race in 2021, Horologist is eligible for Sunday’s $120,000 Summer Colony Stakes at Saratoga, a spot that seemed more logical to trainer Bill Mott than taking on the likes of Letruska, Swiss Skydiver, and Royal Flag.

“It did to me,” Mott said. “What makes sense to other people I don’t know.”

Horologist’s biggest career win came in last year’s Grade 2 Beldame Invitational at Belmont Park. The Summer Colony looks like a good spot to get the 5-year-old New Jersey-bred mare to that race on Oct. 10.

Horologist, a daughter of Gemologist, won the listed Top Flight Invitational at Aqueduct in April before disappointing runs in the Grade 3 Allaire du Pont Stakes at Pimlico and the Lady Jacqueline at Thistledown. Mott wasn’t pleased with the rides he got in either of those spots.

In the Shuvee, Junior Alvarado let Horologist run away from the gate and she led until deep stretch before being passed late by Royal Flag. She fended off Crystal Ball for second.

“She ran her butt off, she just got beat,” Mott said. “Hopefully, four weeks’ rest is enough. She ran a hard race last time.”

Dunbar Road won the Grade 1 Alabama here in 2019 and the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap last year, and trainer Chad Brown is hoping some class relief can get her back on the winning track. Dunbar Road has finished a non-threatening fifth in both the Grade 1 La Troienne and Grade 3 Shuvee.

Her stablemate, Gold Spirit, finished fourth in the Grade 3 Shuvee in her first start in the United States and first for Brown. Gold Spirit will have blinkers off for this race.

So Darn Hot is stepping up in class coming off a first-level allowance win at Belmont in June. Trainer George Weaver equipped her with blinkers that day, and she ran her best race since she won a maiden race the previous June.

Weaver trained So Darn Hot’s mother, Tizahit, who won the Demoiselle at 1 1/8 miles, so he’s hopeful So Darn Hot will be able to get that distance Sunday.

“The reality is she has two good races on her form, they’re both one-turn races at Belmont,” Weaver said. “She should handle it, we kind of want to find out.”

Javier Castellano rides So Darn Hot from the rail.

Gibberish, who figures to be prominent from post 4 under Tyler Gaffalione, is dropping into a listed stakes after running second in the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap. She goes out for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who entered the weekend with just one win from 29 starters at the meet.

Thankful won the Ladies Stakes at Aqueduct in January, but is winless in four starts since for trainer Todd Pletcher.